Speaker: Marianne T. Watson

Preview Of Coming Volumes In The Series Persistence Of Polygamy: Joseph Smith And The Origins Of Mormon Polygamy

This session focuses on forthcoming anthologies in the Persistence of Polygamy series, including eight essays examining Joseph Smith and the beginnings of Mormon polygamy up to 1844. The essays are original, never-before-published contributions by scholars with special expertise on the subject. Among the topics examined are polyandry, underage marriage, the question of Joseph Smith’s polygamous …

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JOHN W. AND LORIN C. WOOLLEY: ARCHANGELS BETWEEN NINETEENTH-CENTURY POLYGAMY AND TWENTIETH-CENTURY MORMON FUNDAMENTALISM

A large majority of today’s Fundamentalist Mormons believe authority to perform plural marriages outside the Church originated in1886 when LDS Church President John Taylor received a revelation regarding plural marriage as well as a personal visitation from Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. They believe President Taylor ordained a few trusted men with apostolic authority and …

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